Lovehoney Nominated For Growing Retailer Of The Year - Retail Week Awards 2012

Lovehoney, the UK's largest online retailer of sex toys, has been shortlisted in the Growing Business of the Year category in the Oracle Retail Week Awards 2012. The nomination recognises the company's success and continued growth in the marketplace, including its first high street presence with the recent acquisition of luxury erotic retailer Coco de Mer.

Established in 2002 by business partners Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst, Lovehoney has achieved significant success within the UK retail sector, achieving in excess of 30 per cent year on year growth for the past three years despite the economic downturn. The company’s most recent accounts showed a turnover of £13.4 million in the financial year ending March 2011, with pre-tax profits of £1.1 million.

Notes to editor

Directors Richard Longhurst, a former technology journalist, and Neal Slateford, a DJ, have proven to be savvy and innovative retailers, growing the Lovehoney business from an original £9,000 investment into an international operation fulfilling in the region of 50,000 orders per month, with one in every three sex toys in the UK being purchased from the online firm.

Lovehoney was also recently shortlisted in two categories at the 2011 Orange National Business Awards, with judges commending them on their online business success as well as commitment to delivering excellent customer service.